The first thing we noticed was the smell, a murky, rotten stench that clung to the air like a suffocating shroud. It surrounded us, relentless and inescapable, a stark contrast to the pristine environment of the previous floor. The king was toying with us, testing our resolve. The walls were riddled with corpses, some fresh, others decayed beyond recognition. It was a grim reminder of what awaited us if we faltered.
This was the floor of traps, a labyrinth of deception steeped in cruelty. I knew I had to warn the others. Without vigilance, we'd meet our end before even realizing what had gone wrong.
"We need to be careful," I began, my voice steady despite the unease gnawing at me. "Carelessness will lead us to ruin. This is the trap floor, and we have no idea what's waiting for us."
The others nodded solemnly, and we began our search. The maze was alive, the cracks in the walls seemed to watch us, mocking our every cautious step. Seconds blurred into minutes, minutes stretched into hours, and after what felt like a day, it became evident that we'd made no real progress.
"This is ridiculous," Shawn finally snapped, frustration bleeding into his voice. "We've been treading as carefully as possible, and we've barely scratched the surface of this damn maze."
Anna, ever the agitator, chimed in without hesitation. "Shawn's right, Hudson. This little game of yours has gone on long enough. We need to pick up the pace or starve to death in this hellhole. Quit overthinking and trust your instincts."
Anna's bluntness was as grating as her logic was sound. Her peculiar reasoning often pushed me to my limits, not because she was wrong but because she had a knack for being infuriatingly correct. And now, she has backed me into a corner. Pride urged me to resist, but even my stubbornness couldn't ignore the cold reality spelled out by the system's latest update:
Time Limit Introduced.
Time Used: 8 hours
Time Remaining: 12 hours
Distance Traveled: 11 km
Distance Remaining: 89 km
I had no choice but to relent. Even the system was mocking my slow and steady approach. Resigned, I stepped back, watching as Shawn took the lead. Anna's smug expression only deepened my irritation. To my chagrin, their approach worked. In just three hours, we'd covered six kilometers, bypassing traps with an almost insulting ease. My cautious method had failed, and their impulsive strategy had proven me wrong.
I silently wished for more dangerous traps,not out of malice, but to validate my earlier stance. Or so I told myself. But as the thought lingered, a chilling realization crept in: Was I truly wishing harm upon my allies for the sake of pride? The idea disgusted me, yet I couldn't shake it.
As if answering my unspoken prayers, a deafening metallic roar shattered the uneasy silence. Serrated blades erupted from the walls, spinning at incomprehensible speeds, pausing briefly as if savoring our fear. Then, without warning, they lunged.
This wasn't a trap we could outsmart or sidestep. It was a predator, designed to kill. The blades seemed alive, their teeth chattering with glee, feeding off our terror. We ran, our breaths ragged, our footsteps heavy, and yet we couldn't shake the feeling of being hunted. This was the first time in my life I truly felt like prey.
"What the fuck triggered this?!" I screamed, desperation clawing at my voice.
"I hit a button!" Shawn admitted, his voice trembling. "I thought charging ahead was better than creeping along. I'm sorry!"
If I hadn't been consumed by fear, I might have pitied him. But in that moment, all I could think was, pathetic.
Minutes stretched like hours as we fled, and when the cacophony of the blades finally ceased, we collapsed in exhaustion. Fury burned within me.
"Why the hell did you do that, Shawn?" I demanded.
"What do you mean?" he shot back. "All the traps so far have been easy! How was I supposed to know they'd get worse?"
Before I could respond, the fallen archer cut in, her voice icy and laced with venom. "How were you supposed to know? Are you serious? I've lost an arm, for fuck's sake! Do you honestly think barreling through traps without a plan is a good idea? Enough. We can't trust your instincts anymore."
This revision sharpens the narrative, heightens tension, and deepens character development while maintaining the original tone. Let me know if you'd like further adjustments!
Her words hit me harder than I cared to admit. She was right. Shawn's recklessness wasn't the sole issue here,it was my failure. I'd been so determined to dictate our pace, so insistent on caution, that I'd ignored the reality of our situation. My supposed strategy wasn't just slowing us down; it was killing our morale. And worse, it had revealed something dark within me.
Why had I silently prayed for more dangerous traps? Why had I wanted my colleagues to falter so I could be vindicated? The thought churned in my stomach like poison. Pride. That insidious beast had wormed its way into my mind, clouding my judgment. I had preached vigilance to my team, not to keep us safe, but to prove myself right. And now, we were paying the price for my hubris.
But her voice wasn't just a reprimand; it was a wake-up call. As I sat there, staring at the flickering torches that lined the walls, a realization dawned on me. I had been relying too much on logic, analyzing each step, weighing every decision as if I could outthink this labyrinth. But this maze wasn't built to be solved by intellect alone. It demanded something primal,something instinctual.
I thought back to the traps we had encountered so far. They weren't just puzzles; they were predators. The way the saw blades had paused before lunging, the way the walls seemed to watch us,they weren't random designs. They were crafted to elicit fear, to exploit hesitation. And in that moment, I understood: this wasn't a game of intellect. This was a hunt.
If we were to survive, I couldn't simply be cautious or methodical. I had to become a predator myself, someone who could read danger and react instinctively. My heart pounded as the pieces began to fall into place. This was why I had struggled to keep pace with the others. I had ignored the very skill that set me apart: my ability to sense and adapt to threats without overthinking. It wasn't just about moving faster; it was about embracing the instincts I had suppressed for so long.
But embracing them wouldn't be easy. Instinct wasn't a switch I could flip,it was something I had to surrender to. My mind raced, balancing the risk and reward of what I was about to do. If I let myself fall into that primal state for too long, I risked losing control, blurring the line between calculation and chaos. Yet, if I didn't, we wouldn't make it through this floor alive.
I raised my hands slowly, demanding the attention of the group. The argument between Shawn and the archer died down as their eyes locked onto mine. The tension was palpable, every second stretched thin by the weight of expectation. I closed my eyes and exhaled, allowing the noise of the world to fade. This wasn't about them anymore; it was about me, and whether I could accept what needed to be done.
Then, in the silence, I let go. My vision darkened, my senses sharpened, and I steeled myself to activate my Predatorial Vision for the longest stretch yet. This wasn't just a skill,it was my lifeline, the only way forward. Whatever this maze threw at us next, I would be ready.
The first thought that came to my mind was weird. I don't really know how to explain it. Up until this point I only used Predatorial Vision as a form of attack. A way to strike at opponents. A way to find weaknesses that they did not even know that they had. The weakness lesser beings had, the weakness of prey. But then again what does that make me? When I took caution for every step, where I was worried about falling victim to the traps, where I was worried about the saw blades reaching their target and chewing me alive. No that's not true. That's a lie to myself. I was not worried. Not in the slightest. I was… scared. I was scared that I would become what I once was at 12 years old. Something that I swore to throw aside. Something that I vowed to burn. A memory that I myself had forgotten. But it seems my body didn't. That damn room. That fucking shitty prison cell. Designed to break adults with its simple yet effective structure. THAT CELL. That cell. Yeah it was in that cell that I realised how harrowing, how terrifying the world truly is. That cell was where I lost any hopefulness of a happy childhood.
The fact is, this entire labyrinth, from the moment I stepped into it, was mocking me. Athena, the goddess of wisdom. She was looking down on us instinctual types, much like her relationship with the true god of war. It was as if she had an inbuilt hatred of those who trusted their guts more than their intelligence, and unfortunately for me, this labyrinth was reminding me of that at every twist and turn.
This fucking level kept poking at the insecurity I thought I had long since conquered, yet it remained. Scarred so deep into the flesh of my soul that the very foundation was shaking. I hated this feeling. Why did I still feel like prey when I escaped that hell? I was angry, livid even. I get that she was an Olympian, the favored princess of Olympus, but that's it. A deity who picked favorites far too easily. Someone who did not even consider the benefits some mere mortal might have. But I had to steel myself. I opened my mouth and decided to open a topic that had been hidden for far too long.
"Guys, we need to talk," I started, my voice steady but sharp. The stereotypical opening to every uncomfortable conversation.
"What's going on, man?" Shawn asked, his brows furrowing slightly, his tone cautious.
His broad shoulders slumped ever so slightly, betraying the weight he carried. Rebecca stood slightly behind him, her bow slung across her back, her empty left sleeve pinned neatly at the shoulder. Her sharp blue eyes scanned me as if trying to dissect my intentions. Anna, the healer, stood quietly to the side, her soft smile carefully hiding something sharper underneath.
I took a step forward, letting my onyx eyes sweep across them. They reflected not their strengths, but their weaknesses,cracks in their armor, insecurities hidden beneath brave facades.
"I don't believe any of you are capable of leading anymore." My voice was cold, resolute. "I want to give another attempt and lead us to the end of this shitty floor."
The words hung in the air, heavy as stone. I let my eyes linger on Anna, the so-called healer of the group. She wore a smile,not warm, not comforting, but sharp and knowing. And then, just for a fraction of a second, something changed in her gaze. A flicker of intensity, an almost predatory sharpness. It was like staring into a mirror,a predator sizing up another.
But it was gone in an instant, leaving behind the carefully constructed image of the kind-hearted healer. I couldn't help but smirk at the facade.
"I promise," I continued, my tone softening, "if within two hours we don't cover at least three kilometers, you can all strip me of this role. But even if you don't trust me, I will still hold myself responsible. So if you don't trust me or my leadership, trust my promise."
Silence followed. Not the calm kind,this was heavy, oppressive. I could see the gears turning in their heads, the silent weighing of risks and rewards.
Shawn scratched at his beard, a nervous tick he always fell back on when pressured. Rebecca's piercing gaze stayed locked on me, her lips pressed into a thin line. Anna's smile had vanished, replaced by an unreadable expression.
I wanted them to believe me, not because I needed validation, but because I needed them to move. Forward. Together. I wasn't asking for blind trust, just a chance.
Then, like the crack of thunder in a still sky, Shawn spoke.
"Guys, I fucked up."
Rebecca snorted, rolling her eyes. "Of course you did, you melon."
"Point is," Shawn pushed on, his voice louder now, "I no longer want to be the one to lead us through this. I'm scared, alright? And hey, he promised, didn't he? He hasn't broken a promise yet."
I blinked. When did I make promises before this? Apparently, I had. Shawn seemed so certain of it, and Rebecca and Anna were nodding along as if my word was gospel. It was almost funny. My word? Trustworthy? If my old 'friends' could see me now, they'd die laughing.
But Shawn's declaration had cracked something in the group dynamic. The tension eased, if only slightly, and a reluctant consensus began to form.
"Fine," Rebecca said at last, her voice tight with irritation. "But if you screw this up, I'm feeding you to whatever horror Athena's got waiting for us in this hellhole."
"Duly noted," I said dryly.
Anna finally spoke, her voice soft but firm. "We'll follow. But don't think for a second we'll hold back if you lead us into a death trap."
"Fair enough," I replied.
The labyrinth stretched before us, an endless corridor of shadows and faint torchlight. The oppressive air pressed down on my chest, but I took the first step. And then another. My comrades followed, the sound of their footsteps blending with the faint hum of something ancient lurking in the dark.
I kept my eyes peeled, my senses heightened to the point of paranoia. The labyrinth wasn't just a physical obstacle,it was psychological warfare. Every corner felt like a trap, every shadow a dagger aimed at our backs.
"Do you think she's watching us?" Shawn asked softly, his voice trembling.
"Athena? Of course she is," Rebecca replied. "Gods don't build mazes like this just to ignore the people stupid enough to walk into them."
"Stupid enough, huh?" I muttered.
Rebecca smirked faintly, but it didn't reach her eyes. We walked in silence for a while longer until we reached a junction. Three paths split before us, each more foreboding than the last.
"Which way?" Shawn asked.
I closed my eyes, letting my instincts take over. I wasn't Athena. I wasn't wise, logical, or strategic. But I trusted my gut. It has gotten me this far.
"Left," I said firmly.
"Left it is," Rebecca muttered.
We turned as one, stepping into yet another dark corridor. My heartbeat echoed in my ears, but I kept walking.
Somewhere, deep in the unseen corners of this labyrinth, I could almost hear laughter,sharp, feminine, and condescending.
Athena was watching, alright. And she was waiting for me to fail.
But she would have to wait a little longer. Because I wasn't stopping now.